Narada Michael Walden

Narada Michael Walden (born Michael Walden on April 23, 1952 in Kalamazoo, Michigan) is an American producer, drummer, singer, and songwriter. He was given the name Narada by guru Sri Chinmoy in the early 1970s and his musical career spans three decades, in which he was awarded several gold, platinum and multi-platinum awards. Walden has also owned and operated Tarpan Studios, a well-known recording studio in San Rafael, California, since the mid-1980s.

Performing career

His stage career included appearances with John McLaughlin and the Mahavishnu Orchestra (where he replaced legendary drummer Billy Cobham),^[1], Jeff Beck (on Beck's album Wired) and Tommy Bolin Band.

His first album, Garden of Love Light, was released in 1976 and included the track "Delightful", song from Tommy Bolin Band setlist. The lone single released from the album, it charted at #81 on the R&B charts in the spring of 1977.

His 1979 album Awakening peaked at #15 on the R&B charts, spawning a Top 10 hit with "I Don't Want Nobody Else (To Dance With You )". Later that year, his album The Dance of Life yielded the Top 5 single "I Shoulda Loved Ya", which also made the UK Top 10 in 1980. "Gimme Gimme Gimme", his 1985 duet with Patti Austin, reached #1 in Sweden. In 1988, he scored another UK top 10 hit and a #1 US Dance hit, with "Divine Emotions" under the name Narada.

Achievements

Number one hits have included several collaborations

• Whitney Houston
  • "How Will I Know"
  • "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
  • "So Emotional"
  • "Where Do Broken Hearts Go"
  • "All the Man That I Need"
• Mariah Carey
  • "I Don't Wanna Cry
  • "Heartbreaker
• Aretha Franklin
  • "Freeway of Love"
• Aretha Franklin & George Michael
  • "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (duet)
• Diana Ross
  • "Take Me Higher"
• Regina Belle
  • "Baby, Come to Me"
• Starship
  • "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"
• Lisa Fischer
  • "How Can I Ease the Pain"
• Tevin Campbell
  • "Tell Me What You Want Me to Do"
• Al Jarreau
  • "Heaven & Earth"

He has contributed to a diverse range of musical genres including rock, jazz, pop, R&B and fusion.

He was awarded Grammys for Producer of the Year in 1987,^[1] Album of the Year for the movie soundtrack The Bodyguard in 1993^[1] and the Song of the Year in 1985 for Aretha Franklin's "Freeway of Love." He was also named as one of the "Top Ten Producers With the Most Number One Hits" by Billboard magazine.

Discography

Albums

• Garden of Love Light - 1976
• I Cry, I Smile - 1977
• Awakening - 1979
• The Dance of Life - 1979
• Victory - 1980
• Confidence - 1982
• Looking At You, Looking At Me - 1983
• The Nature of Things - 1985
• Divine Emotion - 1988

Singles

• "Delightful" (1977)
• "Give Your Love a Chance" (1979)
• "I Don't Want Nobody Else (to Dance with You)" (1979)
• "I Shoulda Loved Ya" (1980)
• "Tonight I'm Alright" (1980)
• "The Real Thang" (1980)
• "Summer Lady" (1982)
• "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" (1983)
• "Gimme, Gimme, Gimme" (1985)
• "Divine Emotions" (as Narada) (1988)

Soundtracks

• Beverly Hills Cop II
• Perfect
• Licence to Kill
• The Bodyguard
• Jason's Lyric
• 9½ Weeks
• Crooklyn
• Free Willy
• Mannequin
• The Associate
• Now and Again
• Innerspace
• Bright Lights, Big City

Other collaborations

• Phyllis Hyman
• LaToya London ("Every Part of Me," "Learn to Breathe," and "State of My Heart")
• Stacy Lattisaw "Let Me Be Your Angel" album, "With You" album, Sneakin' Out album, "Sixteen" album and "Perfect Combination" album.
• Al Green ("Your Heart's in Good Hands")
• Shanice Wilson ("I Hate to Be Lonely", "Love Is The Gift" [English theme song found only in Square Enix's video game The Bouncer])
• Ray Charles
• Diana Ross ("If You're Not Gonna Love Me Right", "I Will Survive")
• Wild Orchid
• Tevin Campbell (Tell Me What You Want Me To Do)
• Angela Bofill
• MyTown ("Love Sent Angel" from Mytown)
• Steve Winwood ("Junction Seven" album)
• Phaze II
• Andy Vargas
• Debelah Morgan
• Jai
• Jermaine Stewart ("We Don't Have to Take Our Clothes Off")
• Natalie Cole ("Good to Be Back")
• Clarence Clemons
• Puff Johnson
• Eddie Murphy ("Put Your Mouth On Me")
• Carl Carlton ("The Bad CC")
• Robert Fripp ("Exposure")
• Weather Report ("Black Market")
• Michelle Gayle ("Sweetness", "Freedom", "Happy Just To Be With You", "Baby Don't Go", "All Night Long")
• Amii Stewart
• Allan Holdsworth ("Velvet Darkness" LP, CD)
• Jeff Beck, album "Wired"
• Sister Sledge, album "All American Girls"
• Sheena Easton, ("So Far, So Good", from the Original Soundtrack of the movie "About Last Night", No Sound but a Heart LP)
• Tommy Bolin, ("Marching Powder")
• Jaco Pastorius ("Come On, Come Over")
• Pia Zadora ("Pia Z")
• Don Novello and Cat McLean ("Everyone Is Free To Wear Camouflage")

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} Hogan, Ed. "Narada Michael Walden: Biography". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/artist/p105590. Retrieved 2010-03-24. 

External links

• Official website of Narada Michael Walden
• Official website of Narada Michael Walden's recording studio, Tarpan Studios
• Narada Michael Walden interview at Allaboutjazz.com

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Name	Walden, Narada Michael
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Date of birth	April 23, 1952
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